Many of us have ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War. Whether they were with General Washington at Valley Forge or at Cowpens or Kings Mountain or any of the other notable battlegrounds of our War for Independence, they were there to lay down their very lives as the price for freedom.

Let us take a little time to recall Christmas, 1777, during that war

Christmas in wartime is especially difficult, and so it was at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in 1777.

These are the times that try mens souls, wrote Thomas Paine in his well-circulated pamphlet entitled The American Crisis. His opening line became the pivotal description of the Continental Army that fought against great odds to win freedom.

Indeed, Valley Forge stands as a monument in time attesting to the trying times General George Washington and the Continental Army faced.

Was there any hope for the struggling nation against the British? Was the dream of freedom to be lost amidst the cold, illness, death and deprivation of harsh winter? The Continental Congress had been forced to flee Philadelphia under British occupation. Little hope remained for support or supplies to feed the starving troops.

What would George Washington tell us as we face today what we face in this country?

Not to answer my own question, because I really don’t know what he would say; but I somehow doubt he would even understand the level of immorality, political corruption, and shameful laziness in this country today. - I wish he could walk around in Williamsburg and sit in Maupin’s Tavern there with us and his friends once again. I’m sure he would have some choice words after an hour or so of brief explanation of what has transpired.

4
posted on 12/25/2012 3:58:00 PM PST
by Twinkie
(The WICKED walk on every side when EVIL men are exalted. Psalm 12:8)

Two of my former students, now current friends, are at Leatherneck celebrating Christmas.They just posted a pic of themselves on Facebook. I always tell them that my babies (4-year-old son and 16-month-old daughter) sleep safely in their beds because of men like them. Although it was illegal I sent them off with rounds of beer at our local watering hole, and I plan on welcoming them home with the same cold beer and a hot home cooked meal. I hope that I can raise my son to be the men that they are. I hope that I can raise my daughter to know the true worth of men like them.

I watched The Crossing too and wondered at how little I knew about this battle of Trenton in which 3 of my own ancestrors fought with Washington, 2 of whom went on to extend their initial enlistments and fight on another year

One of them many generations ago passed along to his grandson a piece of scrip Washington had given him as one of the rowers across the Delaware. How precious an artifact that would be to ever find again

Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.